1. Ready-Advanced Junior English
The Walum olum

2. The tribe it originated from
The Lenape (Delaware) Native American tribe
The colonization of the Europeans brought a lot of cultural exchange as well as a lot of conflict. The Lenape tribe is rich in Pennsylvania’s early history.

3. Lenape Literature
Lenape stories often revolve around respect and commonality amongst all living beings.
They believe we cannot know our future if we do not know our history.
Do you agree with this? Why or why not?

4. A story of creation
The Walum Olum is also referred to as the Red Record and has been passed off as the Lenape’s version of The Bible.
The Red Record has a similar story involving Adam and Eve, and the snake of Eden, but all have native names.
The story is rumored to chronicle their travels east across the Bering Straight to North America from their original ancestral home on the border of China and Russia.

5. Interesting Tidbits
The Walum Olum is the oldest written record of a Native American people and spans 100 generations.
Many believe the Walum Olum is a hoax and was forged by a man named Rafinesque in the 1800’s; however, many Delaware people believe he based his story on actual Lenape writings.

6. Construct Your Own Knowledge:
The Walum Olum is a creation story. What other creation story are you familiar with?
Consider explanations from religions, literature, and science. Then write a breif account of one of the creation stories you know.